Diesel SUV

Choosing An Ideal Diesel SUV

The influx of diesel SUV models has proven so popular that all fifty states now have available models from dealerships for customers looking to take advantage of the lower costs of diesel fuel. Unlike standard gasoline engines, these models are capable of high performance at a low fuel consumption cost, making them ideal choices for families or individuals looking for long distance travel or living in areas where gasoline costs have skyrocketed. Both American and foreign car companies have produced a large number of new models for the public, making it possible to choose different features and price tags that best fit your needs.

German Efficiency Has Created Great Diesel SUV Models

European car companies were hopping on the diesel bandwagon long before American companies were even thinking about putting these types of engines in passenger vehicles. The lower costs of refining diesel in Germany would be the initial impetus for refining truck engines to fit within smaller vehicles. As such, many of the best diesel SUV models have come from German car manufacturers, with some models entering the fourth or fifth generation. Like most European cars, these value fuel economy more than interior space, but there are several SUVs that do not compromise on either.

Diesel SUV - Volkswagen Touareg

The second-generation Volkswagen Touareg may be the most popular diesel SUV 2012 markets have to offer. Named after the Saharan nomad tribes, the Touareg lives up to its namesake by offering excellent reliability and efficiency over the course of long distance travel. Potential owners can either choose a standard V6 engine or choose the turbo diesel three liter engine for better top speeds (but poorer gas mileage). This eight-speed transmission offers an industry-leading twenty-four miles per gallon of fuel, making it practical and affordable for budget-oriented buyers. The starting price of forty-eight thousand dollars is also more amenable than some competing models.

Diesel SUV - Mercedes M Class

The Mercedes-Benz M-Class offers a step up from budget-sized models, with a luxurious five-person interior that combines features like lumbar support, heated seats, driver memory, and MB-Tex leather seat trim. Mercedes-Benz has long since valued style and comfort over lower prices and the M-Class is no exception to their formula. With a price tag of fifty-three thousand dollars, it may be expensive enough to scare off buyers looking for a smaller investment, but the M-Class has been proven to be worth every penny.

The safety features are superb and among the best of all diesel SUV models. Featuring five-star crash test ratings and some of the highest airbag performances of any German car, the M-Class is designed to keep family and friends comfortable and safe. At six thousand pounds it is one of the heaviest SUVs around and the gas mileage suffers: a mere twenty-one miles per gallon.

Diesel SUV - Audi Q7

The 2012 Audi Q7 has been the company’s introduction to the luxury SUV market. This diesel SUV used a new type of interior spacing for the original model while the 2012 design has changed very little. The Q7 has more interior space than any other German diesel model, boasting seventy-two feet of maximum cargo capacity and seating for seven. For larger families, this is the best buy, as it not only has enough space but also is much less expensive. At forty six thousand dollars, it is the cheapest model you can find, and at twenty-two miles per gallon it performs with distinction. Featuring auto-dimming mirrors, BlueTooth capacity, and xenon headlights, this is a vehicle that can offer solutions for nearly any automobile problem.

On Our Side Of The Pond

Diesel SUV - Jeep Grand Cherokee

While American diesel production has lagged behind European competitors, there have been several breakthroughs in development that appear poised to enter into the market. Ford and General Motors have been reluctant to break into the diesel market even though their lines of pickup trucks have been running on the fuel for nearly as long as they have been in production. More customers are importing their SUVs from overseas, making it difficult for United States companies to catch up. Not all companies are looking into production, but there is one hopeful for 2012.

Headlining the short list of American SUVs is the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee, the most popular SUV model from American markets, now refitted with diesel capacity. With a powerful 290 horsepower engine, this SUV can be fitted with a Hemi engine that gets a modest 20 miles per gallon performance (or five hundred miles on a full tank). The Grand Cherokee has won numerous awards for safety, featuring superb crash-test ratings to go along with passenger comfort. The interior of the Cherokee has heated leather seats in both rows, rear back-up cameras for parking assistance, rain-sensitive handles, and standard navigation assistance. At forty-three thousand dollars, it is the least expensive American diesel SUV model.

Diesel SUV – Jeep Grand Cherokee Diesel Review Video